Hong Kong Arts Hub Cancels LGBTQ Play After Complaints of ‘Defaming’ the City
A Hong Kong arts centre on Saturday abruptly cancelled the revival of an LGBTQ-themed play, We Are Gay, just hours before tickets were to go on sale, following complaints that the production “defames” the city.
The play, written by award-winning playwright Candace Chong, explores a love triangle between three men and was first staged in Hong Kong in 2022.
It was scheduled to return in November at a venue in the West Kowloon Cultural District, but organisers said they were notified of the cancellation about two hours before ticket sales opened.
The decision marks another setback for Hong Kong’s LGBTQ community, coming weeks after lawmakers rejected a bill that would have granted limited rights to same-sex couples.
In a statement, the cast expressed disappointment but vowed to continue rehearsals and seek alternative venues.
“The team will continue rehearsals and explore alternative performance options, as this is what brings us the most happiness,” they said.
The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, which operates under a statutory body with members appointed by the government, confirmed the cancellation. The city’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) said it supported the decision, citing a “large number of complaints” alleging the play “promotes confrontation and defames Hong Kong.”
State-aligned newspapers Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po also published commentaries accusing Chong of using art as a tool for “political opposition” and claiming the play was designed to “satirise the city.”
However, cast member Anthony Wong dismissed those claims, writing on social media that the production contains “no depiction of the government or its policies.”
The cancellation follows a broader tightening of cultural and political expression in Hong Kong, where authorities have increasingly scrutinised art, film, and theatre for perceived political messaging.
Earlier in July, organisers of Pink Dot Hong Kong, one of the city’s largest LGBTQ pride events, announced they would cancel this year’s edition after the West Kowloon Cultural District denied them a venue “without explanation.”
